Malcolm In The Middle OG Turned Down ‘Buckets Of Money’ To Appear In Reboot

Former Malcolm In The Middle cast member Erik Per Sullivan evidently had no interest in returning for the show’s new revival.

As a child performer, Erik played Malcolm’s younger brother Dewey in all seven seasons of the family sitcom, which is about to be rebooted for a new generation.

However, in the show’s new iteration, the character of Dewey will be played by new addition Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, after the OG actor declined to return.

During a new interview with The Guardian, Malcolm In The Middle star Jane Kaczmarek made it clear that Erik was approached about coming back – and producers were more than willing to make it worth his while.

“They offered him buckets of money to come back, and he just said: ‘No thank you’,” Jane said, pointing out that Erik is happier focussing on his studies at Harvard, where he’s pursuing a master’s degree in literature.

Outside of Malcolm In The Middle, Erik went on to appear in Christmas With The Kranks and Finding Nemo during his career as a child actor.

It seems he has now retired from acting altogether, last appearing in the 2010 crime drama Twelve, at the age of 19.

Jane and her on-screen husband Bryan Cranston are both appearing in the revival, as are co-stars Frankie Muniz, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield.

Among the other new members of the cast are Keeley Karsten, playing Malcolm’s daughter Leah, while Anthony Timpano and Vaughan Murrae will play his younger brothers.

A synopsis for the four-part Disney+ series, titled Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, reads: “Malcolm and his daughter are drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal and Lois demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party.”

Malcolm In The Middle: Life’s Still Unfair is now streaming on Disney+. Take a look at the official trailer below: